Financial Assistance, Services and Resources

1. Relative Placement Support Benefit (RPSB)
Relatives may be eligible to receive a one-time monetary benefit that can help with basic needs when the child is first placed with you, such as furniture, clothing, shoes, car seats or a deposit for a larger apartment. Note: This benefit is not available to fictive kin caregivers.

You should be asked to sign a DPP 1278 Relative Placement Support Benefit Acknowledgement Form. At the bottom of this form, you will be asked to select one of two options. The first option acknowledges that you’ve been made aware of the RPB and that you are interested in the benefit. The second option is that you are not interested. Understand that if you select the second option (not interested) that you are essentially waiving the RPSB permanently. Once you have this conversation with your social worker, follow-up to ensure you get this payment. Email the kinship hotline to check on the status or request a follow-up on all available services at relative.supports@ky.gov.

Note: The Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky has been working with state legislators to modify the RPB from the “once in a lifetime of the child” assistance and change it to “at placement”. This would help caregivers provide basics for a child if the child is in and out of the system more than once.

Relative Placement Benefit Payments:

- $350 for one (1) child

- $700 for two (2) children

- $1,050 for three (3) children

- $1,400 for four (4) children

- $1,750 for five (5) children; and

- $2,100 for six (6) or more children (capped amount)

3. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Formerly known as Food Stamps and is a federal and state funded program to help low-income families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If your household is approved, you will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card and benefits will be deposited into an account each month. You will use the EBT card and a pin number to access the food stamp account.

For this assistance program, the entire household must meet eligibility requirements and provide proof of their statements about household circumstances. Because children cannot be counted as a separate family unit, all combined income coming into the household needs to fall below the limits. The program is available to all eligible households regardless of the age of the children. The amount of benefits a household receives is based upon the number of individuals in the household and the household income after allowable deductions, such as rent, utilities, and child care expenses.

Call or visit your local DCBS office to apply. You will need to bring information about the combined resources of your household and any sources of income for the household. You can inquire more about this by calling DCBS Family Support (855)-306-8959 or go to the following link: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dfs/nab/Pages/snap.aspx or https://prd.webapps.chfs.ky.gov/kyfaces/ and your local DCBS office.

5. Social Security

Your child may be eligible for benefits from Social Security in a variety of ways:

a. Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Your child (birth to age 18 or 22, if regularly attending school) may qualify for SSI if he or she has a disability that severely limits his or her activities and/or the condition has lasted or is expected to last for at least a year, and the child has little or no income or resources.

b. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): SSDI provides monthly benefits to disabled workers who have earned sufficient credits by working to be insured under Social Security. These benefits may also be paid to disabled widows or adult children disabled before age 22.

c. Retirement Benefits: If you have a dependent child and receive Social Security retirement benefits, your child may receive a monthly payment up to one half of your retirement benefit amount. The child must be unmarried and under the age of 18 (19 if in school) or disabled.

To apply for any of these benefits, you will want to arrange a phone or in-person appointment. When you set up the appointment, ask what in-formation and documents you will need to bring with you that they may want to see. You can inquire by calling: (800)-772-1213, Monday- Fri-day, 7 AM- 7 PM or visiting www.socialsecurity.gov

7. Medicaid

Medicaid is an assistance program that provides complete health care coverage for low income children and their parents, guardians, and caretakers, SSI recipients, children in foster care, pregnant women and certain aged, blind and disabled individuals. For a medical card, you do not have to have legal custody of the child to apply for benefits, but you must be a relative. You may apply for this benefit without applying for K-TAP or other services. This benefit is based on the income of the child alone if he or she is without a parent in the house. Relative caregiver income is exempt. As with K-TAP, you must comply with Medical Support Enforcement to help recover medical expenses that the state must pay out for the child. Call your local DCBS office and schedule an appointment. You will have to provide them with the following information:

- Proof of your relationship to the child
- Information about the parents
- Verification of household size and names
- Verification of child income and resources
- Social Security card, if already issued

For more information: Call: (800) 635-2570 or visit: https://benefind.ky.gov/

9. Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP):

A federally funded program that provides free or low cost health insurance for Kentucky’s children. The income limits for KCHIP are more generous than those for Medicaid. KCHIP covers children whose family income is too high for Medicaid but too low to afford private health insurance. If the child you are raising already has health insurance or Medicaid, you do not need to apply. A child should be considered for this program regardless of the relative caregiver’s income. It is not necessary to have legal custody of a child to apply for this benefit and you may apply without applying for other services.

As with K-TAP and Medicaid, the state will seek out the child’s parents for financial support. Call or visit your local DCBS office, call the toll-free number below to request an application, or download one from the KCHIP website. Once all of the information is received, you will receive a letter telling you whether or not your child has been approved. If your child is approved, you may owe a monthly premium. The approval letter will state how much you owe and you will receive a bill in the mail. Call: 1-877-KCHIP-18 or Visit: https://benefind.ky.gov/

11. Community Collaboration for Children (CCC)

These are in-home based services that educate, strengthen, and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect. These services address children’s physical, mental, emotional and educational needs while strengthening and supporting families. CCC accepts referrals from community partners, self-referrals, family, friends, and the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). CCC services are available free to families whom maintain custody of children across the state. Some of CCC’s services are for the following:

- Children with disabilities

- Teenage parents and parents who are young adults

- Parents with disabilities

- Single family households

- Families with young children

- Low-income families – families in poverty

- Families who are struggling

- Children who are truant or exhibiting problems in a school system

- Grandparents or caregivers raising children

- Homeless families and those at risk of homelessness

- Unaccompanied homeless youth

For more information, refer to the CCC directory: https://prd.webapps.chfs.ky.gov/kyfaces/Content/docs/CCC_Directory.pdf

Excerpt of this program was taken directly from DCBS KYFaces at:https://prd.webapps.chfs.ky.gov/kyfaces/Kinship/CommunityCollaboration

13. First Steps

A statewide early intervention program that aids children with developmental disabilities from birth to age 3 and their families. These services may be provided in the home, child care. A child’s eligibility is determined in one of two ways:

- Developmental Delay: If an evaluation shows that a child is not developing typically in at least one of the following skill areas such as, communication, cognition, physical, social and emotional or self-help.

- Established Risk Concern: Should a child receive a diagnosis of physical or mental condition with high probability of resulting developmental delay such as Down Syndrome.

For more information you can go to: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dmch/ecdb/Pages/firststeps.aspx. Anyone can refer a child for First Steps services by calling (877) 417-8377 or (877) 41STEPS.

Excerpt of this program was taken directly from DCBS KY Faces at: https://prd.webapps.chfs.ky.gov/kyfaces/Kinship/FirstStepsProgram

15. Additional Caregiver Contacts

a. AARP Grandparent News: www.aarp.org/grandparents

b. Amachi Central Kentucky: (859) 389-8279 or visit: https://www.lexlf.org/amachi-central-kentucky-1
Amachi Central Kentucky is a mentoring program that seeks to pair caring, positive adults with children and youth in the bluegrass who have one or both parents in state or federal prison or are affected by incarceration in some way. While there are many programs to help those in prison, there are few viable programs to address the specific needs of the children left behind. Amachi is a passion-ate response to the needs of children impacted by incarceration. Amachi is designed to address their needs and alter the potential negative direction of these children’s lives through mentoring.

c. Adult and Child Health (Dept for Public Health): (800) 462-6122.
For information on child health and family health improvement programs.

d. Benefind: (855) 306-8959 or visit: https://benefind.ky.gov.
Benefind allows Kentucky’s families to easily access public assistance benefits and information 24/7 through an online application and account. The goal of Kentucky’s public assistance programs is to build strong families and obtain services such as food, cash and medical assistance to become self-sufficient.

e. Benefits Check Up: www.benefitscheckup.org.
There are over 2,500 benefit programs available nationwide. Find out what may be available in your area.

f. Big Brothers Big Sisters: (859) 231-8181 or visit: www.bbbs-bluegrass.org.
The agency matches children, ages 6-13, with adult volunteers to have fun together, share experiences, concerns, and accomplishments. Children are matched with volunteers based on the child’s specific needs and interests. Most of the children in the program come from a single parent/guardian home but each situation is considered on a case by case basis.

g. Bluegrass Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living: (866) 665-7921 or visit: www.bgaaail.com.
The Bluegrass Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living will promote and provide for the development of community based systems of care which include: planning, access and delivery of services, coordination of activities and programs, as well as advocacy on behalf of and education for older persons, disabled individuals and care givers in the communities of the Bluegrass.

h. United Way of Kentucky: https://www.uwky.org/about. 502-589-6897.
An organization that may help connect you with health, education and/or financial resources or support in your community.

i. Cooperative Extension Office: http://extension.ca.uky.edu/county
Extension offices are a great resource for further information and support services directly in your local area.. Services include research based information, education classes and training programs in agriculture, family consumer sciences, and 4-H and youth development. Some offices assist in hosting or facilitating kinship support groups.

j. Catholic Charities: (502)-637-9786 or visit: https://catholiccharitieslexington.org/programs/counseling/
Catholic Charities’ counseling program is a non-denominational, non-profit program. The counselors offer adult, individual, marital relationship, family, adolescent, parenting, grand-parenting, and child therapy for a wide range of issues. Counselors are available to facilitate groups. Hours are weekdays and several evenings during the week.

k. Child Abuse/Adult Abuse: (877) 597-2331.
To file a report of any kind for child and/or adult abuse.

l. Child Care Resource and Referral: (877) 316-3552.
Provides referral to child care resources in your area.

m. Child Support Info/Enforcement Hotline: (800) 248-1163
For more information or questions concerning child support or enforcement. This number can be used to direct you where you need to go to gather information.

n. Community Action: (800) 456-3452 or visit: https://www.capky.org/.
There are outreach offices in all 120 Kentucky counties, Community Action agencies provide life-changing resources to support a wide array of service areas, including food security, transportation, home energy, early childhood education, senior support, emergency services, housing, workforce development, family advocacy and more.

o. Generations United: (202) 289-3979 or visit: www.gu.org
The mission of Generations United is to improve the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational collaboration, public policies, and programs for the enduring benefit of all.

p. God’s Pantry: (859) 255 6592 or Visit: https://godspantry.org/
God’s Pantry Food Bank serves 50 counties in central and eastern Kentucky in partnership with more than 400 food pantries and meal programs.

q. Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky: https://kinshipky.org/
The Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky is a community group dedicated to raising awareness of the issues surrounding kinship care in Kentucky and forwarding recommendations for policy changes to increase supports for kinship families. Members from across the state of Kentucky include relative caregivers, advocacy organizations, and support service providers. The mission is to promote policies and facilitate connections to increase supports for and with kinship families. The Kinship Coalition is always looking for other caregivers and caring organizations to join in our mission. You can read more at https://kinshipky.org/. The Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky site has a tab where you can find a local support group near you.

r. Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA): https://kyyouth.org
Credible advocacy organization that often publishes and promotes policies through their Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children. KYA provides research affecting every child in their Kentucky KIDS COUNT annual publications. Read about the KYA mission at https://kyyouth.org. KYA reviews data and pursues legislative changes to make Kentucky a better place for children.

s. Department of Community Based Services (DCBS): (855) 306-8959 or Visit: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/Pages/default.aspx
DCBS is a department of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The divisions of DCBS are Family Support (food stamps, medical, welfare, etc.) and Protection & Permanency (child and adult abuse and neglect, foster care, and adoptions, etc.) NOTE: most public assistance applications are taken at local DCBS offices or online at http://benefind.ky.gov

t. Department for Housing: (800) 669-9777, https://www.hud.gov/
For information on fair housing rights and responsibilities and accepts complaints of housing discrimination. Also, provides general information on U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs.

u. Food and Drug Administration: (800) FDA-4010, https://www.fda.gov/
For more information on food, dietary supplements, and cosmetic safety, as well as the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

v. Food Stamp Case Changes Reporting: (800) 306-8959
To file a report of changes concerning food stamps.

w. Grandfamilies State Law & Policy Resource Center: www.grandfamilies.org

x. Home Health Agency Hotline: (800) 635-6290
For more information or to file a complaint against your home health agency provider.

y. Immigrant Eligibility for Public Benefits: (859) 233-3840,
For information and assistance to obtain green cards, family petitions, and citizenship. Also, helps provide U.S. Visa for foreign nationals who are victims of crime, violence, or trafficking.

z. Kentucky Foster Adoptive Caregiver Exchange System: (877) 565-5608 or Visit: https://prd.webapps.chfs.ky.gov/kyfaces/
Familial and fictive relationships and attachments are paramount for a child’s well being. Relatives and fictive kin caregivers undertake the responsibility of caring for their loved ones and are a valuable resource to the Commonwealth. These caregivers also need resources and support to ensure their success.